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Sand crab · 27-01-2012, 12:25

This is great. I'm not in that price range but a chinese made Gunboat never felt right to me. Kinda like a chinese made Ferrari. Nope. Can't even say it. BTW Sparcraft also has it's US production plant there.
Sailboat manufacturer to open shipyard in Dare County - Triangle Business Journal

Iain · 27-01-2012, 15:44

A nice change for the Outer Banks! Maybe the area will become more sailor friendly. Maybe!

Luxury catamaran builder coming to Wanchese « The Outer Banks Voice

GeoPowers · 27-01-2012, 15:53

Awesome, thanks for sharing!

Kettlewell · 27-01-2012, 15:56

North Carolina has been aggressively courting boatbuilding companies for quite a few years with some success. Does Roanoke Island officially count as the Outer Banks? I've been to Roanoke and it was a nice place to visit--very friendly and I was in a sailboat.

Doodles · 27-01-2012, 16:12

Wonder what models they plan to build in NC. Actually, this seems a bit strange to me since they recently decided to build the 60 footer in China. Aren't there some economies of scale to consolidating you building locations to some degree?

But what do I know?

Iain · 27-01-2012, 16:31

I would say Roanoke Island is not "officially" part of the Outer Banks. Nags Head is where I live. The Manteo Waterfront IS very friendly to sailboats. Is this where you visited? However, the Wanchese Seafood Industrial Park (the only place to haulout)" has not been very friendly. They charge a premium and cater to the Commercial Sport Fishing fleet.

I wouldn't mind having a gunboat!

Kettlewell · 27-01-2012, 16:33

Yes, I went to Manteo and enjoyed it. You can answer a question I've been wondering about. What are the real-world depths like east of Roanoke Island?

Doodles · 27-01-2012, 16:55

I don't know, my iPhone's made in China and its the best piece of equipment I've ever owned.

Iain · 27-01-2012, 17:00

directly east of the north end of Roanoke island Water depths are around 6'-8'. it is shallow west of the channel and shallow close to the bridge. Everywhere south of the bridge is 2'-4' outside the channel. Wind driven tide can easily change that by 1' or so. My previous boat had a draft of 4' 4" and I could sail the area pretty well. Shallow bay bay is shallow 4'? so you have to stay in the channel. North of Roanoke Island the water is 10-12'.

Kettlewell · 27-01-2012, 17:33

So can you carry five or six feet of draft right down the channel the whole way?

Sand crab · 27-01-2012, 17:53

GBs have only about a 2' draft so that channel is a piece of cake.

Kettlewell · 27-01-2012, 18:03

Quote:

GBs have only about a 2' draft so that channel is a piece of cake.

I was hijacking the thread to see if the rest of us who need 5 or 6 feet of water could use the main channel down the east side of Roanoke Island. I'm pretty sure Gunboats are going to have some problems with bridge heights around there though--I guess they will rig them up in Norfolk or down in Beaufort.